Mike McKay

By his own account, Mike McKay has lived a charmed life. This year, he and his wife, Nancy, celebrate their 42nd wedding anniversary. Their daughter, Erin, graduated from the University of Wisconsin where she studied zoology and now cares for the animals she loves – great apes – at the Fort Worth Zoo.
Mike has been fortunate to spend his adult life doing what he always wanted to do – entertaining listeners on the radio.
He was born and grew up in Brooklyn, N. Y. After graduating from college with a B. A. in English Literature from Saint Anselm College he began working, somewhat inexplicably, in the financial sector in lower Manhattan. But it wasn’t long before he began pursuing a dream born years before while listening to the Beatles on New York’s WABC radio. Soon he was offered a position in sales at an AM station in tiny Lehighton, PA. Within a month he was doing the morning show. Five years later, he landed an on air gig at the most listened to station in the nation which just happened to be that very station he tuned in while in high school – WABC 770 which was heard in more than 30 states.
By the early eighties however, music on radio was making it’s inexorable transition to FM. Although that meant leaving the station he grew up with, it brought other remarkable opportunities. Mike went on to a pioneering position in satellite radio hosting Nighttime America on the RKO Radio Network which was heard on hundreds of radio stations in all fifty states. Later he was able to live and work in other parts of the country, including Salt Lake City, Indianapolis, and Detroit. In ’97, the family moved to the great southwest which led to the ultimate opportunity when an entrepreneurial listener, Ned Bennett, approached Mike with a plan to form a new radio company. And Bravo Mic Communications was born.
Today, and every day, Mike looks forward to getting up early and joining his on air partner and great friend for the last 14 years, KC Counts, for “Your Morning Show with Mike and KC” which has been the most popular radio show in southern New Mexico for several years running. Email mikemckay@101gold.com

Mike McKay's Blog

March 31st, 2015: 101 Number One Song of the Day was supposed to be a sad song but it didn’t turn out that way at all. The writer, who was born in Roswell, just couldn’t help himself.

Henry John Deutschendorf was feeling so down when he sat down to write the song you’re about to hear that he wanted to write a “feeling –blue” song. But what came out was the kind of thing he became famous for – chronicling the positive side of existence even though, as an Air Force brat, he constantly moved from place to place and was a pretty lonely kid. For a time, he studied architecture at Texas Tech but mostly he played the guitar, which was with him constantly from the time he was eight years old. He dropped out in the middle of his junior year and dedicated the rest of his life to music. And on March 31, 1974 he owned the number one song in America. By that time he dropped his first name – Henry – and renamed himself after his favorite city – Here’s John Denver (Sunshine on my shoulder)

March 30, 2015: The 101 number one song of the day was written by the same guys that wrote the song it replaced at the top of the charts. That happened twice before but never for two completely unrelated artists…even the whole sound was different.

The writers were Kenny Nolan and Bob Crewe who was a onetime member and longtime producer for Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. In fact the song that was knocked out of the top spot by today’s featured song was “My Eyes Adored You” by Frankie Valli. The song you’re about to hear was recorded by a group that had been around since the early sixties but with only limited success. Now with a new name – which they took from the their lead singer – they finally scored a huge hit. Unfortunately, it would also be their last although the lead singer is still very active to this day. On March 30, 1975 this song was number one – “Lady Marmalade” LaBelle (Patti LaBelle)

March 27, 2015: When the 101 number one song of the day was released people wondered could this group possibly do what no one else ever had? The answer was a resounding yes!

The group had just scored three straight number ones and no one in the history of Billboard’s Top 100 had ever recorded 4 straight chart toppers. So this one was one for the record books. Lamont Dozier who co-wrote the song with Brian and Eddie Holland remembers that it all started with a fight he was having with his girlfriend. He was always looking for lyrics and often would stop a conversation when something struck him and run to the piano to start writing a song. That’s exactly what happened when he uttered a phrase which struck them both as funny and consequently ended the argument. That phrase became the title of a song which was number one on March 27, 1965 for the Supremes and the phrase was: Stop in the Name of Love!

March 26, 2015: The two people responsible for today’s 101 number one song of the day met in a service elevator in a rundown Philadelphia building where they had run to escape a gang fight.

And the song was about something that will come as a surprise to most people. It was written about an ex boyfriend of the girl who was dating one half of the duo who brought it to number one. He was the heir to a fast food chain. He was, according to the girl, very wealthy and very arrogant. But as the writer said, “You can’t write, ‘You’re a rich boy’ in a song, so I changed it to a girl. The writer was Darryl Hall. The song reached number one on March 26th, 1977 for Hall and Oates “Rich Girl.”

March 25, 2015: The 101 number one song of the day was recorded by a group whose main guys grew up together in California and started a band called the Crossfires. One of them was little more than a roadie when they started out.

The boyhood friends were Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. That relationship got Mark into the band – in a way – despite the fact he couldn’t really do anything musically related. He mostly set up equipment and during gigs would play the tambourine. Eventually he got tired of his lowly status so he bought an alto sax and learned how to play it. In time they drew the attention of a couple of record distributors who were looking for talent for their new label – White Whale. They liked the group but rejected the name, Crossfires. Influenced by many British groups, especially the Zombies, they decided on a new name and where on their way. Their sixth chart hit was number one in America on March 25, 1967 for the Turtles (Happy Together)

March 24, 2015: Today’s 101 Number One Song of the Day was rooted in homesickness although the man that wrote it only briefly lived near the place which provided the inspiration.

He was a member of a group formed in London where they developed a large fan base by performing in clubs throughout the city and opening for such headliners as Pink Floyd. Eventually, they landed a recording contract and headed to the states where they toured as the opening act for the Everly Brothers. And this is where they longed to be because, although they mostly grew up in England, they were sons of American parents. Soon they were the headliners when their first single landed at number one this week in 1972. And this is your 101 number one song of the day – from America – “A Horse With No Name.”

March 23, 2015: The 101 # 1 Song of the Day was recorded by former guitarist for an all girl band called the Runaways who had trouble getting airplay on radio stations because was considered too “punk.”

So she decided to fight back declaring, first of all, “I ain’t no punk rocker, I play rock and roll.” And she played that rock and roll a lot by almost constantly touring thereby creating a demand for her music. And eventually, radio stations started playing her records because their listeners demanded it. And one of those songs rose to number one during this week in 1982 for Joan Jett and The Blackhearts. I love Rock and Roll.

March 20, 2015: The 101 number one song of the day was recorded by an artist who most people would be surprised that he was associated with Motown. In fact he had to buy the rights to today’s featured record back from Motown before it became a hit.

He and his former group had great success in the early sixties and later signed to the new label because they expected to work directly with Berry Gordy, Jr. But at this point he was too involved with supervising the production of the movie “Lady Sings the Blues” starring Diana Ross. After a couple of years, today’s featured singer left Motown to sing with a new label which was just founded by Clive Davis. There was one song from the Motown years that he recorded but was never released and he had strong feelings about it so he put of $4000 of his own money to buy back the rights and that was the song that was number one this week in March, 1975 for – Frankie Valli (My Eyes Adored You)

March 19, 2015: The 101 Number One Song of the Day was written by a Rhodes Scholar who met the person who would sing it during what was called the “great tequila bash.”

It was the spring of 1970 and he stayed at her home for a party that lasted for weeks. When friends worried that the hard drinking Texas mama who took the song to the top of the charts would ruin her health with her lifestyle, she replied, “Maybe I won’t last as long as other singers, but I think you can destroy your now worrying about tomorrow.” As it turned out she did not have many tomorrows left. She would not live out the year. In the following year, the song written by the Rhodes Scholar – Kris Kristofferson – would become number one. It arrived at the top this week in March, 1971 – for late Janis Joplin. (Me And Bobby McGee)

March 18, 2015: 101 Number One Song of the Day: was recorded by a rock and roll superstar whose name is as recognizable today as it was then. Yet it was his ONLY solo effort to crack the top 30.

Over the years he was in bands with some of rock and roll’s other more recognizable names such as Rick James – ever hear of the Mynah Birds? Not too many have but everyone knows the B-Y-R-D Byrds and he eventually hooked up with one of their well known names. Before that, he formed a band with Stephen Stills which became Buffalo Springfield. After that Stills got together with ex-Hollie, Graham Nash and the aforementioned Byrd, David Crosby. Eventually, they convinced their friend to make it a foursome. When they went their separate ways, today’s featured artist pursued his desire to work alone and on March 18, 1972 one of his solo efforts was the number one song in America. It was the only time he penetrated the top 40 on his own. Here’s Neil Young, with “Heart of Gold” – today’s 101 number One song of the Day.